Holy Cross Catholic Church — Mishicot, Wisconsin

Photos and postcard views of the interior and exterior of Holy Cross Catholic Church in Mishicot, Wisconsin.

One postcard addressed to Charles Kronforst is dated May 1914. Another photo is dated 1985.

In the very beginning Holy Cross was a Mission Station that was visited occasionally by priests who were serving St. Luke’s Congregation in Two Rivers. A small chapel was built in 1854 to serve as a place of worship for the people in this area.

Prior to this time, the community was served by Father Joseph Brunner and later Father Winner, both of whom were from the Society of Jesus, a missionary group of Jesuits of exceptional missionary zeal, whose journeys on foot took them to all towns near the Lake Michigan shores. On such occasions the homes of Oliver LeClair, located near the Mishicot Locker plant; Fortier’s, later owned by Florenz Baugniet, and Scheuer’s, near Steiner’s Corners, were opened to their fellow Catholics for Mass.

Holy Cross continued to be a mission of St. Luke’s until 1857 when Rev. A.B. Rinkes became the first resident pastor of the parish.

It was decided in 1860-61 to organize a parish at Mishicot and by 1862 a church had been built. It was a frame structure with a pioneer Gothic Style tower. The church was truly a tribute to the deep faith and the spirit of sacrifice of those early pioneers.

It was estimated that there were seventy families when the parish was formally organized.

A glimpse at the church records shows the first baptism to be that of Mary Boudewyn, who was born April 6, 1863 and who was baptized on Christmas day, 1863. Some of the other interesting facts reveal that the first marriage was that of Oliver LeClair. Mr. LeClair was born in 1822 and died April 11,1864. A zealous worker for the young parish, he had donated the land on which the parish buildings stand and the old cemetery plot where he is buried.

With the passing of time Holy Cross once again became a mission parish served by St. Luke’s. Between 1878 and 1880 the parish was served by Father Hellweger, Father George Veith and Father H. Reuter. The parish was without a pastor for two years until Rev. Sales Beck came in 1882. He was succeeded in 1885 by Rev. A.N. Buschle and Rev. W.F. VanRoosemalen who served the parish from 1886 to 1890. It was during this pastorate that the first set of stations donated by William Cochems were installed.

In 1894 the entire church was rebuilt.

For a number of years Holy Cross was once again a mission parish of St. Anne’s at Francis Creek. During the pastorate of Rev. Aloysius Bastian (1897-1899) the first parsonage was built. The Rev. J.C. Bourgmeyer succeeded him and in 1900 Father Phillip St. Louis was assigned to Mishicot. With the help of John Cochems, Father St. Louis was instrumental in building the first parochial school, and Catholic education for the children of Holy Cross, under the tutelage of the Sisters of St. Francis of Bay Settlement, became a reality.

Father Arthur Belle was named pastor in 1909. By this time the parish had increased to about eighty-nine families and in 1913 the school was enlarged to a two room school building with living quarters upstairs for the sisters. In 1915, the altars were redecorated and the oil paintings of the stations, which still decorate the church walls, were donated by parishioners.

In September, 1926, Rev. Michael Gonnering succeeded Father Belle. Major improvements during this pastorate included a new pipe organ, new vestments, remodeling the rectory and redecorating the church.

Father Alfred Pritzl was appointed pastor in 1932. He served this parish until 1938. Under his direction the present cemetery was incorporated to provide perpetual care and funds for its maintenance.

Father Joseph Van Bogart became pastor in 1938 and continued until his sudden death on January 9th, 1946.

Father Van Bogart was succeeded by Rev. George Beth. The present school, gym, and sister’s convent were built during his pastorate and were dedicated on May 10,1952. On November 12, 1958 Father Beth was transferred to St. Mark’s Catholic Church in Two Rivers, and was succeeded by Rev. Anthony Betley. In 1961 a new rectory was built and the church was enlarged and remodeled and in 1963 the parish celebrated its one hundredth anniversary.

On November 15,1971, the parish welcomed Rev. Earl Brouchoud, a priest-son of the parish, as their pastor. Father Brouchoud is the son of the late Mr. and Mrs. Richard Brouchoud. During his stay at Holy Cross, Father Brouchoud revitalized the Christian Education Program for the youth of the parish and instituted an Adult Education Program. With the strong support of a good friend and benefactor, Florenz Baugniet, the parish built an addition to the school. Another project conducted by Father Brouchoud, was that of remodeling the church to include redeco rating and carpeting. Father Brouchoud also started the deacon program at Holy Cross. Frank Kroll, a classmate and good friend ofFather Brouchoud’s, was the deacon. Father George Kiefer was also assisting with parish services. Father Brouchoud left Holy Cross for his new assignment in DePere in June of 1982.

Today, Father Richard L. Allen is the pastor at Holy Cross Parish in Mishicot. He took over this assignment in July of 1982.